Be real on a scale 1-10 how hard is it taking care of a yorkie

[Onni]

Onni has been a wonderful dog!

1. Pretty easy to train. (1)

2. Her only vet bills have been the normal spay and up keep. (2)

3. Her food is not expensive (even though she eats a premium dog food) A 3.5 pound fur baby does not eat much. (1)

4. Because of her small size; having to be extra cautious can cause extra work (5)

I would rate over all a 3

[Britster]

Jackson's probably a 2.

He was very easy to train.

He's 6 months old right now and about 90% potty trained.

He's just such a joy to be around and an all around good dog.

not much to worry about with him - being 13 pounds and all, he's really sturdy and strong and can do everything (like jumping on the bed and couch etc) by himself.

Only reason I gave him a 2... he's got a few quirks. When I go to my dad's house to visit and stay the nights.... the CATS! He's awful with them. Bark, bark, bark, chase, chase, chase. It's very annoying and something we're still working on. Actually that's the only real quirk I can think of.

[Lynn WDW]

The only way I know to do this is compare taking care of Baxter to taking care of the Pom (Foxy) I had for 13 years. The pom with full coat and all was a 5. Baxter is a 9. And he is basically a healthy dog. But he has to have special food which can only be purchased an hour away. Foxy ate Purina One (and lived to be 13!!) Baxter is so totally active. Constantly wanting to play. He also hates getting a bath and by the time I'm through, I'm as wet as he is. He is still waking up sometimes at night to go outside to potty at age 16 months. He has actually chewed the walls. He is way more aggressive than Foxy was and he has been neutered, Foxy wasn't. He refused to crate - Foxy crated wonderfully and that became his refuge when he was tired. I wouldn't trade Baxter for anything but I will never have another yorkie.

[xoxodoglover89]

I'd say about a 7, but it's all definitely worth it. Owning a dog has taught me so much about responsibility. All the tough parts with potty training or just training with general is all completely worth it. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Jeri Cunningham]

I have nine dogs and each Yorkie is at least a 7 with Teddy a 9. I brush teeth daily, comb hair daily, and give each one alone time daily. They are like two year olds and I LOVE it!

I spend over 3000.00 a year on my dogs and don't mind a bit.

[bfforever]

Please click one of the Quick Reply icons in the posts above to activate Quick Reply. Whoops newby, sorry.

[bfforever]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

At age two, Joey's very easy to care for, I've owned lots of different dogs, I think smaller is easier; easier to bath and groom, and easier to transport. I trained Joey to go on a pee pad, and this makes it even easier than with other dogs, who had to be walked or needed a door opened for them. Joey the first dog I've owned that lets me sleep in, and I love to occasionally sleep in. He needs to be brushed every day, but with his silky hair, that's no problem. I think lots of people think Yorkies are difficult because they didn't train them when they were puppies, I think it's just as important to train a small dog as a large dog, and since Yorkies can be rather stubborn, you have to be even more stubborn. If I had small children, I don't think it would be as easy. When my sons were young, there was a lot of rough housing, and friends running in and of out of the house, I think a larger dog was better than. If your facetious about your house, the first 6 months can be pretty frustrating housetraining a yorkie, as you've probably read, is more difficult, and you think they understand, and then wham, an accident. To me, yorkies are best for someone who wants a child, but doesn't want to worry about them ever getting married and leaving you.

I say amen to all you said. My vet always suggested I write a book on owning and training yorkies. I used big dog training though always kept their size in mind. I would never have tolerated all the peeing and small dog ideosyncracies. Mine were well adjusted, courageous, loving and OBEDIENT.

[mscat]

Suzi is my first puppy/and yorkie I have ever owned. It is hard for me to compare her to other dogs because I have not ever owned any others. As a child I grew up with poms. Also, a toy breed. Which requires a tremendous amount of grooming. I was the one who got to do the brushing, and loved it!
Suzi is now a little over a yr old. she uses the pee pads well, and will potty outdoors too. The grooming can get costly, as well as the vet bills. I would rate caring for a Yorkie so far for me luckily as a 6. It has not been too bad. However, I am constantly worried about her health all the time. Maybe because I love her so much. I do this with my own son , especially when he was very young too. now I find myself doing it with Suzi . I just wish there was better medical insurance coverage for our aniamls!

[hugz4all4]

I would rate Tucker (6months old) a 7 or 8. He has had a few health problems and he is a pistol. lol.. He has been pretty tough to train and he never stops going He runs all day long untill he falls over from exhaustion. BUT I wouldnt trade him for the world, he is the best little cuddle buddy and he definitly adds some "life" to my house.
As far as expenses go.. a 10. Between the amount of money I have spent on food, (changing numerous brands) grooming fees (every 6 weeks) and medical it has been pretty expensive but well worth it.

[bfforever]

I didn't answer the question. Owning a yorkie is easy with the right attitude. You can groom yourself--I always did. Persistant and consistant "rules" for potty training and training produce results. If you have the mindset to let your yorkie get away with anything because he/she is oh so cute and oh so tiny, they will rule the house, which by the way will become one big toilet. I owned collies before yorkies. Collie grooming far exceeded yorkie grooming. Those giant poos to clean up in the yard got to me, plus we never owned dark clothes because of the shedding. Yorkies have special needs because of their size. The health issues can be a drain emotionally and financially. But....they are so worth it.

[FlDebra]

If you are comparing to other breeds then I would have to give Yorkies a high number. Ben demands a LOT of attention, needs frequent grooming, daily brushing, hiney wipes, eye and beard cleaning. He is intact, and we have a new problem of marking.

In comparison, my Jack Russell is already spayed so no extra there, needs no brushing, keeps herself meticulously clean, no trips to the groomers, an occasional nail clipping and she is good to go. She is also more self-reliant, less needy.

So comparing the two, giving my JR a 1, then Ben, my yorkie would get a 7, at least. But if I get another dog, it will be a Yorkie -- so the return is worth it!

[mimimomo]

Mimi is a 2, she would get a 1 if I didn't have to make her hair all perty every morning. If I don't have her hair in a topknot...she couldn't see where she's going & we wouldn't be able to see her perty face. Momo is a 3 now...it was an 8 when he was a pup cuz he had some medical issues to hurdle over but he's a healthy, full of energy widdle love bug now. We really have to watch him tho...he gets into trouble sometimes. Disappearing...which means he's doing something he shouldn't be doing in another room...like eating stuff he shouldn't be eating. He keeps us entertained, for sure.

[JMuedog]

I'd say Finnigan is about a 5 (still have marking problems).

Gwenndilyn is still in the chewy/potty training stage (still getting up twice a nighyt) so she's a 9.

As far as the financial aspect, I've not spent any more money (except for the purchase price) on my yorkies than I would've spent on any other dog breed. We've been lucky and not had too many extra vet visits so far!

[celstu1]

Lets see ... as pups, Id say easily a 10. Between the peeing and chewing and tearing my walls, cabinets, baseboards and anything they could up ... it was a chore... however ALL dogs will be like that during teething stages.

Ive had big dogs and little dogs and I'd say caring for one is more or less than caring for the other. Yorkies have grooming that needs to be kept up with that can be costly. Plus you want want to DRESS a yorkie more than you'd want to dress a bigger dog.

Since Yorkies are indoors with you all the time they WANT more attention. I would rate my dogs a 6 on a scale of 1 - 10. So many facets of owning a dog (big or small) that are the same. Owning a dog is a lot of dedication, not just work. Skipping nights out with friends because you can't leave the dog home alone for 20 hours a day, walks in the rain/snow because no matter the weather, they need to go out, vet visits because they ate something bad (like duck poop) and are sick. Its all dedication. My boys are the best thing in my day! Its all worth it... but its got to be worth it to get a dog period... not just a yorkie.

[amandawash]

I would have to say 10 due to the fact I have one coming off an injury and the other from a surgery.